A French pensioner survived being flung out of a plane at 2500 feet after grabbing the ejector handle to "steady himself".
The incredible story has been revealed by a French aviation investigation report which has found significant failures in the safety procedures for the flight.
In March 2019, the unnamed 64-year-old was given a flight in the jet to celebrate his retirement.
He did not really want the flight but was convinced to do it anyway by his colleagues at the defence contractor where he had worked for most of his career.
"This situation generated a feeling of stress for the passenger," reads the report by the Paris-based Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis (BEA)
"This was particularly felt during the ejection seat briefing where he had to assimilate a large amount of information in a very short time."
The unfortunate pensioner had no experience with military aircraft - especially not the £70 million Rafale fighter jet he was taken in.
When the plane took off more rapidly than he expected and climbed high into the sky, the Frenchman grasped for something to steady himself and found the ejector handle, reports the Telegraph.
With a loud bang he was thrown from the plane and his poorly secured mask and oxygen mask were torn from his face.
He managed to land with the use of his parachute and ended up in a field near the border of Germany, shocked and with minor injuries.
The report calls on the French Airforce and the Defence Ministry to review its procedures for allowing civilians on military flights.
